Peterhansel extends Dakar lead in Bolivian mud

January 10, 2017 | 17:46

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UYUNI, Bolivia: Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel won Monday's (Jan 9) Dakar Rally special after narrowly edging Peugeot teammate and compatriot Sebastien Loeb in the first part of the rain-hit seventh stage between La Paz and Uyuni in Bolivia.

Peugeot's driver Stephane Peterhansel and his co-driver Jean Paul Cottret of France compete during Stage 5 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between Tupiza and Oruro, Bolivia. (AFP/Franck FIFE)

Reigning champion Peterhansel was just 48 seconds faster over the 161-kilometre route but almost doubled his overnight lead in the overall standings on Loeb, to 1 minute 57 seconds.

The 2009 champion, South Africa's Giniel de Villiers, in his Toyota was third some 3 minutes 33 seconds behind Peterhansel over the special.

"It's the second stage won on the rally. You take everything you can get. We'll tally up the numbers after," said Peterhansel, a record six-time Dakar winner in both the car and motorbike categories.

"It's going to be a scrap but it was already like that last year. With Seb but also with Cyril (Despres), who isn't far behind (fourth at 14 minutes 01 second). And then there's Nani (Roma) who remains super quick and navigates well."

Spaniard Roma, the 2014 winner and a former motorbike champion, is third overall at 11 minutes 07 seconds in his Toyota.

American Ricky Brabec clocked the best time in the bikes category on his Honda as he finished close to two minutes ahead of Portugal's Paulo Goncalves.

KTM rider Sam Sunderland was 4 minutes 43 seconds down on Brabec in third on the day, but the Briton remains the overall leader after gaining time on Chile's Pablo Quintanilla. Sunderland is 17 minutes 45 seconds clear of the Husqvarna rider.

Bolivia's stages in the gruelling 9,000-kilometre race have been badly affected by the weather with Friday's run from Tupiza to Oruro shortened, Saturday's stage cancelled and Monday's run cut from 320 kilometres to 161 kilometres after more torrential rain.

Organisers confirmed Tuesday's stage - due to feature a 492-kiloemtre timed section - would also be altered slightly due to flooding that has left a section of the route impassable, shaving around 70 kilometres off the planned special.

AFP

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